Sporting ball and method of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A sporting ball includes a ball core unit, a main body unit and an outer covering unit. The ball core unit includes a spherical cork body, and a rubber layer covering the cork body. The main body unit includes a yarn layer having at least one piece of yarn wrapped around the ball core body, and a rubber film layer fixedly covering the yarn layer and being immovable relative to the yarn layer. The outer covering unit fixedly covers an outer surface of the main body unit. A method of manufacturing the sporting ball is also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Utility Model PatentApplication No. 108202387, filed on Feb. 26, 2019.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a sporting ball, more particularly to abaseball or a softball, and a method of making the sporting ball.

BACKGROUND

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional baseball 1 includes a ballcore 10 made of cork, a elastic layer 11 encasing the ball core 10 andmade of rubber, a ball coat 12 formed with yarn wrapped around theelastic layer 11, a waterproof layer 13 encasing the ball coat 12 andbeing made of a waterproof material, and a outer layer 14 encasing thewaterproof layer 13. The outer layer 14 includes two leather pieces 141,and a stitch 142 stitching together the leather pieces 141 by edges ofthe leather pieces 141 such that the leather pieces 141 cover an outersurface of the waterproof layer 13. Specifically, the waterproof layer13 prevents the ball coat 12 from becoming damp or being filled withwater, which helps maintain the shape and center of mass of the baseball1.

As the waterproof layer 13 is formed by welding together two shellportions 131, if the production quality or the quality of the materialof the shell portions 131 is poor, joints between the shell portions 131may break apart during use of the conventional baseball 1 causing theshell portions 131 to separate, or the shell portions 131 themselves maycrack. Furthermore, since there is no substantial connection between theball coat 12 and the waterproof layer 13, there may be relative angulardisplacement between these two layers. Any of the above situations mayresult in an undesirable change to the structure of the conventionalbaseball 1, changing the center of mass and shape thereof and negativelyimpacting the feel in hand and the service life of the conventionalbaseball 1.

SUMMARY

Therefore, the object of the disclosure is to provide a sporting ballthat can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art and amethod for manufacturing the same.

According to one aspect the disclosure, a sporting ball includes a ballcore unit, a main body unit and an outer covering unit.

The ball core unit includes a spherical cork body, and a rubber layercovering the cork body.

The main body unit includes a yarn layer having at least one piece ofyarn wrapped around the ball core unit, and a rubber film layer fixedlycovering the yarn layer and being immovable relative to the yarn layer.

The outer covering unit fixedly covers an outer surface of the main bodyunit.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method formanufacturing a sporting ball includes:

-   -   a preparing step to prepare a ball core unit that includes a        spherical cork body and a rubber layer covering the cork body;    -   a wrapping step to wrap at least one piece of yarn around the        ball core unit repeatedly to form a yarn layer;    -   a covering step to cover the yarn layer with a liquid rubber        resin and to dry the liquid rubber resin to form a rubber film        layer that fixedly covers the yarn layer and that is immovable        relative to the yarn layer; and    -   a stitching step to stitch together a plurality of leather        strips by edges of the leather strips to form a stitch such that        the leather strips cover an outer surface of the film layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent inthe following detailed description of the embodiments with reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional view of a conventional baseball;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating joining of a waterproof shelland a outer covering layer of the conventional baseball

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional view of a first embodiment of a sportingball according to the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating an outer covering unit of thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectional view of a second embodiment of asporting ball according to the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a third embodiment of asporting ball according to the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a first embodiment of a method formanufacturing a sporting ball according to the disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a process the first embodimentof the method;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a second embodiment of a method formanufacturing a sporting ball according to the disclosure; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view, illustrating semi-finished sporting ballswith anti-stick powder layers manufactured by the second embodiment ofthe method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it shouldbe noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals orterminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among thefigures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which mayoptionally have similar characteristics.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a first embodiment of a sporting ballaccording to the disclosure includes a ball core unit 2, a main bodyunit 3, and an outer covering unit 4. It should be noted that as abaseball and a softball are structurally similar and only differ insizes thereof, the sporting ball of the disclosure may be used as eithera baseball or a softball. The size of the sporting ball may be adjustedaccording to official regulations, which is well known to those skilledin the art, and thus the difference between baseballs and softballswould not be further discussed in the disclosure.

The ball core unit 2 includes a spherical cork body 21, and a rubberlayer 22 covering the cork body 21. The ball core unit 2 has significantmass, and is less susceptible to deformation. The rubber layer 22 haselasticity and thus can absorb impact, preventing the ball core unit 2from permanently deforming due to large impact, which keeps the overallshape and center of mass of the sporting ball constant.

The main body unit 3 includes a yarn layer 31 having at least one pieceof yarn 310 wrapped around the ball core body 2, and a rubber film layer32 fixedly covering the yarn layer 31 and immovable relative to the yarnlayer 31. The film layer 32 of the main body unit 3 is formed bysolidifying liquid rubber resin. The yarn layer 31 takes up the largestportion of volume of the sporting ball in this embodiment, and is a mainstructure of the sporting ball. The yarn layer 31 is an elasticstructure formed by the yarn 310 wrapped repeatedly around the ball corebody 2 until a certain thickness is built. As long as the structure ofthe yarn layer 31 is not disrupted or water does not infiltrate the yarnlayer 31, the original feel in hand of the sporting ball may bemaintained. The film layer 32 infiltrates into the yarn layer 31, whichreduces the possibility of the film layer 32 peeling off the yarn layer31.

The outer covering unit 4 includes a plurality of leather strips 41, anda stitch 42 stitching together the leather strips 41 by edges of theleather strips 41 such that the leather strips 41 cover an outer surfaceof the main body unit 3. In this embodiment, the outer covering unit 4includes two leather strips 41.

Since the outer covering unit 4 is formed with the two leather strips41, even if the edges of the leather strips 41 are stitched together,there exists a gap between the two leather strips 41 which moisture canenter the sporting ball through. However, since the yarn layer 31 andthe ball core unit 2 are both encased by the film layer 32, moisturecannot penetrate further into the yarn layer 31 and the ball core unit 2of the sporting ball to affect the shape, mass, center of mass, or theelastic coefficient of the sporting ball. Furthermore, since the rubberfilm layer 32 infiltrates into the yarn layer 31 and is immovablerelative to the yarn layer 31, the feel in hand of the sporting ball ismore easily maintained. All of the above serves to lengthen the servicelife of the sporting ball according to this disclosure.

In official matches, the mass and size of the ball used is strictlyregulated. In the Chinese Professional Baseball League, for example, thebaseball used must weigh between 5 ounces and 5.25 ounces, and have acircumference of between 9 inches and 9.25 inches. In the firstembodiment, by preventing absorption of moisture into the sporting ball,increase of the mass or circumference of the sporting ball is prevented,allowing the measurements of the sporting ball to remain within therange stated by the regulations of official matches, as well as helpingplayers gain familiarity with a ball with stable characteristics.

Referring to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of a sporting ball according tothe disclosure is similar to the first embodiment, and differs from thefirst embodiment in that the main body unit 3 further includes ananti-stick powder layer 33 formed on an outer surface of the film layer32 and disposed between the film layer 32 and the outer covering unit 4.Further referring to FIG. 10, during production, the semi-finishedsporting ball with the rubber film layer 32 has a degree of stickinessthat may cause the semi-finished sporting balls to stick to each other.The anti-stick powder layer 33 can prevent the semi-finished sportingballs from sticking to each other, which makes the manufacturing processsmoother.

Referring to FIG. 6, a third embodiment of a sporting ball is similar tothe first embodiment, and differs from the first embodiment in that atleast a portion of the stitch 42 penetrates the film layer 32 of themain body unit 3, which further secures the leather pieces 41 to themain body unit 3.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a first embodiment of a method ofmanufacturing a sporting ball according to the disclosure includes aproviding step 71, a wrapping step 72, a covering step 73, and astitching step 74.

In the preparing step 71, the ball core unit 2 is prepared. The ballcore unit 2 includes the spherical cork body 21 and the rubber layer 22which covers the cork body 21.

In the wrapping step 72, the yarn 310 is wrapped around the ball coreunit 2 repeatedly to form the yarn layer 31 to form a semi-finishedproduct 31′ (see FIG. 8) that includes the yarn layer 31 covering theball core unit 2.

In the covering step 73, the liquid rubber resin is applied to the yarnlayer 31 and dried to form the rubber film layer 32 that fixedly coversthe yarn layer 31 and that is immovable relative to the yarn layer 31.In this embodiment, the liquid rubber resin is applied to the yarn layer31 by soaking the semi-finished product 31′ made in the wrapping step 72in the liquid rubber resin, such that the liquid rubber resininfiltrates into the yarn layer 31 before being dried. In otherembodiments, in accordance with the practical requirements ofmanufacturing methods, the liquid rubber resin may be applied viaspraying or dipping and is not limited to the above method. After theliquid rubber resin is applied to the yarn layer 31, the liquid rubberresin layer is heated under a temperature between 80° C. and 100° C.,and thus is solidified to form the film layer 32. The higher temperatureserves to speed up the solidification process, but if left at roomtemperature, the liquid rubber resin should solidify in about 1 minutenaturally.

In the stitching step 74, the leather strips 41 is stitched together byedges of the leather strips 41 to form the stitch 42 such that theleather strips 41 cover the outer surface of the film layer 32. In someembodiments of the method, at least a portion of the stitch 42penetrates the film layer 32 to make the third embodiment of thesporting ball.

Referring to FIG. 9, a second embodiment of a method for manufacturing asporting ball according to the disclosure is similar to the firstembodiment of the method, and further includes a coating step 73′between the covering step 73 and the stitching step 74. In the coatingstep 73′, the outer surface of the film layer 32 is coated with ananti-stick powder to form the anti-stick powder layer 33. The anti-stickpowder may be, for example, cornstarch powder. The second embodiment ofthe method makes the second embodiment of the sporting ball.

In sum, the film layer 32 infiltrating into the yarn layer 31 and beingimmovable relative to the yarn layer 31 prevents moisture frompenetrating into the yarn layer 31 and the ball core unit 2 of thesporting ball and prevents the sporting ball of the disclosure fromexperiencing irreversible change in shape, mass, elastic coefficient, orcenter of mass. Thus, the sporting ball of the disclosure has consistentfeel in hand and lengthened service life.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details have been set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to oneskilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practicedwithout some of these specific details. It should also be appreciatedthat reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number andso forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristicmay be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be furtherappreciated that in the description, various features are sometimesgrouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereoffor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in theunderstanding of various inventive aspects, and that one or morefeatures or specific details from one embodiment may be practicedtogether with one or more features or specific details from anotherembodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what areconsidered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that thisdisclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intendedto cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope ofthe broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modificationsand equivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sporting ball comprising: a ball core unitincluding a spherical cork body, and a rubber layer covering said corkbody; a main body unit including a yarn layer that has at least onepiece of yarn wrapped around said ball core unit, and a rubber filmlayer that fixedly covers said yarn layer and that is immovable relativeto said yarn layer; and an outer covering unit fixedly covering an outersurface of said main body unit.
 2. The sporting ball as claimed in claim1, wherein said film layer infiltrates into said yarn layer.
 3. Thesporting ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main body unit furtherincludes an anti-stick powder layer formed on an outer surface of saidfilm layer and disposed between said film layer and said outer coveringunit.
 4. The sporting ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outercovering unit includes a plurality of leather strips, and a stitchstitching together said leather strips by edges of said leather stripssuch that said leather strips cover an outer surface of said main bodyunit.
 5. The sporting ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outercovering unit includes a plurality of leather strips, and a stitchstitching together said plurality of leather strips by edges of saidleather strips such that said leather strips cover an outer surface ofsaid main body unit, at least a portion of said stitch penetrating saidfilm layer of said main body unit.
 6. The sporting ball as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said film layer of said main body unit is formed bysolidifying liquid rubber resin.
 7. A method for manufacturing asporting ball, comprising: a preparing step to prepare a ball core unitthat includes a spherical cork body, and a rubber layer covering thecork body; a wrapping step to wrap at least one piece of yarn around theball core unit repeatedly to form a yarn layer; a covering step to coverthe yarn layer with a liquid rubber resin and to dry the liquid rubberresin to form a rubber film layer that fixedly covers the yarn layer andthat is immovable relative to the yarn layer; and a stitching step tostitch together a plurality of leather strips by edges of the leatherstrips to form a stitch such that the leather strips cover an outersurface of the film layer.
 8. The method of making a sporting ball asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said covering step is to infiltrate theliquid rubber resin into the yarn layer before being dried.
 9. Themethod of making a sporting ball as claimed in claim 8, wherein saidcovering step is to apply the liquid rubber resin to the yarn layerusing one of the methods of soaking, spraying and dipping.
 10. Themethod of making a sporting ball as claimed in claim 7, wherein saidcovering step is to dry the liquid rubber resin by heating under atemperature between 80° C. and 100° C. so as to solidify the liquidrubber resin on the yarn layer.
 11. The method of making a sporting ballas claimed in claim 7, further comprising, after said covering step, acoating step to coat an outer surface of the film layer with ananti-stick powder to form an anti-stick powder layer.
 12. The method ofmaking a sporting ball as claimed in claim 7, wherein said stitchingstep is to make at least a portion of the stitch penetrate the filmlayer.